Method of and means for attaching printing members to cylinders of printing presses



Dec- 25, 1951 G. s. RowELL ETAL 2,579,517

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING PRINTING MEMBERS To CYLINDERS oF PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 1, 194e 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 MII oooOUoooooOOOoO OOOOGOOOCOOOOOOOVOOO DE N6 m L 0 E NLE E E 6 N VW: E moM .o T/w 5H .A aw. Rf @H cw Dec. 25, 1951 G. s. RowELL. ETAL.

METHOD OF' AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING PRINTING MEMBERS y TO CYLINDERS- OF PRINTING PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 mm lm Nm S www, @EN Q w w, U E *um J .ll m O O O C. Nu G a. G a v mm .E 0 Q 0 G Q Q 0 0 \D/ 0 O Q 0 Q O Q 0 0 INVENTOR GEORCE akowfL/.AND BY /E/PE/#T MCGEO/Qc @Maa IMJ O 0 0 0 O \D/ Q 0 Filed Nov. l,` 1946 N awww mm 5 ooo013.000oo@wooooooomvoooooooooooooooooo d r .rl V m n o\ i o. wm o. oo oo oooooeooobooooooooooooooooooo 0.o mim. @u A ATTORNEYS.

Dec- 25, 1951 G. s. RowELL ETAL 2,579,517

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING PRINTING MEMBERS TO CYLINDERS OF PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. l, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm m' 9 IN VEN TOR TTOZIVEY.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED srirrss param" orrlcr.

; METHOD AND MEANS FOR A'ITACHING 6 PRINTING MEMBERS TO CYLINDERS OF PRINTING PRESSES George S.

Roweil, Bedford; and Herbert McGeorge, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignorsto TheChandler & Price Company,..0le veland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 1, 1946, Serialv No. 707,290

1,8 Claims. (Cl. 10i-415.1)

leading and rear edges of the sheets and hooking such edges over corresponding rows of teeth carried on the recessed non-printing portions i the cylinder. Or the ends of the pla-te have been clamped between opposed bar members in such recesses and the plate sharply bent over the edges ofthe recesses. Such attaching means have long been a source of much trouble for the operator. The holes in the plate vWear rapidly and become elongated or torn so that the-plate either becomes loose while the press is in operation or gets out of register so that a non-uniform product is obtained. The metal plates, particularly, often become so permanently deformed as to render storage a problem.

It is, therefore, aprimary object of our inven- ,ion to provide a lithographie plate and attaching meansadapted to cooperatev therewith to ensure both proper registryy and secure attachment in use.. y,

Another object of lthis invention-is to provide attaching means for lithographie plates which Will be .adaptable for use with `both cellulose (paper) and metalplates.

Still another object is to provide attaching.

means of thetype indicated which will notJ damage the plate either in use or when attaching or detaching such plate.

`Other objects of our inventionwill appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention thencomprisesthe features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following` de- Fig. v13 is an elevational view ofi-such attaching means;

2 Fig. Aiis a fragmentary sectional View of one end of such attaching means; Y Y

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the'end portionof a Vlithographie'.plate or the like adapted to cooperate Wit'n'our new attach-ing lmeans Fig. Sis a top plan view of the top member of f such attachingmeans Fig. 7 Yis' a top plan view of the intermediate member ofsuch attaching means;

Fig. Sis a. top plan view of the lowermember of such attaching-means;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottomw plan view-ofy such top member;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the re-r siliently mounted form of our newv attaching;

means illustratingthe position of. such intermediate memberfwhen acellulose lithographie plate is employed, for example;

Fig. 11 is avieW of such attaching means similar toVv that of Fig-10 but illustrating the position oftheY intermediate member When aV metal lithographic plate isemployed;

Fig. 12 isa vertical sectional view throughsuch attaching means-showing the projections serving to register the ylithographie plate;

Fig. 1'3i1lustrates one mechanism .for opening and closing the attaching means;

Fig. 14' isa View similar toFig. 13L but showing the device in closed vposition Fig. 1'5 isa verticalk sectional view taken along-V the line lE--l Een Fig. 14;

Fig.- 16 `isa sectionalview of another embodiment. of my invention Vin which the holding` teeth are-adapted to be retracted into the cylinder;

Fig. 17 is a sectionalview similar to Fig. 16 butshowing the teeth extended; v

Fig.` 18 is a sectional view talrenzalongthe'k lines -l 8on Fig. 16;

Fig. 19` is an end elevational view of such clamp ing-means; Y

Fig. l2li-is a topy plan view of such clamping means; l

Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional View taken along` theline 2 1 2 l on Fig. 20; and

Fig. 22 is a detail view'off'a portion ofthe teeth operating means.

Referring'now more-particularly to such drawings and especially Figs. 1,-3, the device of our, inventi'onqis adapted` to be mounted on appropriately recessed portions of'the'plate cylinder, I cfa rotary press. One of such attaching means is fixedly positioned on" the Cylinder while the Yother is resiliently mounted' to facilitate attachment of the lithographie plate-andto' insure that" suchplateisheldaboutthe cylinder under proper tension.` Llilach of such attaching means coni-- prises a lower member 2 secured to the recessed portion of the cylinder and carrying a row of beveled teeth 3. An intermediate plate 4 is apertured to iit over such teeth and rest upon lower member 2. An upper member 5 is pivotally attached at 6 to the rear edge of member 2 and is likewise apertured to t over the ends of beveled teeth 3.

In addition to upstanding teeth 3, lower member 2 is also provided with upstanding V-shaped registry lugs I (see Figs. 8 and 12) which are adapted to cooperate withvV-shaped notches 8 in the leading and rear edges of the lithographie plate 9 (see Fig. 5). Intermediate member 4 is notched at I3 and top member 5 is apertured at I I to receive such lugs when the attaching means is in closed position.

We are aware that lithographie plates have been made in-the past with a large number of tabs at each end and a hole through each tab for attaching to hooks. Such an arrangement has proven disadvantageous for a number of reasons including the fact that such tabs become bent and torn in use. Also,.the number of holes available to be secured to the attaching hooks or teeth is greatly reduced and the strength of the plate is not as greatas one having a relatively unbroken edge. In our lithographie plate, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the plate is provided with a plurality of holes between the registering V- shaped notches, thereby providing a maximum of holding power without weakening the edge portion of the plate. Where an individual tab is provided for each such hole they become bent and tend to prevent the plate from being held flat against the glass of a vacuum printing frame. Furthermore, there is waste in the excess material cut away to form such tabs, adding to the cost of the plates. With our arrangement the holes may be'closer to the ends of the plate without danger of tearing whereas in the case of tabs extra material must be left about each hole.

Adjacent each end of intermediate member 4 are holes I2 and I3 through which protrude posts I4 and I5, respectively, coil springs such as I5 tending to urge intermediate member 4 upwardly. Clamping means are provided operative to hold the members of the plate attaching means in close engagement. Such clamping means comprises four similar units, each of which consists of a post I'I secured in the cylinder and extending upwardly through an opening I8 in top member 5. Posts Il have raised caps I3', the under portions of which are engaged by inclined slides I9. Coil springs 20 tend to urge member 5 and therefore such slides upwardly against the under portions of such caps I8. Rods 2l and 22 connect such slides to cam followers 23 and 24, respectively, adapted to travel in cam tracks 25 and 23 of rotatable table 2. Thus, by rotating such table, rods 2l and 22 may be reciprocated similarly to reciprocate inclined slides I3. When the lowermost portions of the inclined portions of such slides are beneath caps I8 of posts I1, it is obvious that springs 20 will thereby be enabled to elevate toprplate 5 to clear teeth 3. The coil springs encircling posts I4 and I5 (see Figs. 2 and .4) will likewise be effective to raise the intermediate plate 4 above the level of the ends vof such teeth.

As above indicated, the attaching means of this invention may be made as a separate unit to be secured to the impression cylinder or the lower member 2 may be formed integrally with such cylinder. In anycasahowever, one of such attaching means should be resiliently mounted to facilitate attachment of the lithographic plate and also to insure proper tensioning thereof. The attaching means shown to the left in Fig. 1 0f the drawing, while otherwise identical with the attaching means securing the other end of the plate, is thus resiliently mounted. The base of the recess in cylinder I is cut away to leave an upstanding lip 28 (see Figs. 1 and 3) and a horizontal slot 29 to the rear of such 'ecess (see Figs. l0, ll and l2). A block 30 of lesser width than such cut away portion is slidably mounted in the bottom of the recess behind lip 2B and is urged rearwardly therein by coil springs 3I encircling screws 32 threaded in such lip portion 23 of the recess. Block 30 is thus urged rearwardly by such springs into slot 23 but may be forced toward lip-28 against the compression of springs 3l when it is desired to secure a lithographic plate in the attaching means.

The under surface of top member 5 is longitudinally scored by two shallow grooves 33 and 34 and one surface of intermediate member 4 is provided with ridges 35 and 36 corresponding to such grooves when such members are assembled (see Fig. 10). Member 4 is reversible so that when desired the said ridges 35 and 33 may be turned downwardly out of cooperative relation to grooves 33 and 34 (see Fig. 11)

An alternative device for clamping and unclamping the attaching means is illustrated in Figs. 13-15, inclusive. When employing this form of clamping means, the teeth 3 will desirably be secured in upper member 5 rather than in member 2. A side plate 31 is pivotally attached at 38 to the end of bottom member 2 and is provided with a handle 39. Studs in the form of screws 43 and 4I secured to the ends of members 5 and 4, respectively, engage cam tracks 42 and 43, respectively, in such pivotally mounted side plate 31. Such cam tracks are so formed that when handle 39 is shifted from the Fig. 14 to the Fig. 13 position, intermediate member 4 is rst held in position relative to lower member 2 while top member 5 is elevated. When such pivotal movement has progressed far enough to elevate top member 5 suciently to withdraw the ends of teeth 3 into the thickness of intermediate member 4, cam track 43 causes member 4 likewise to be elevated sufficiently to release the lithographie .plate 9.

The operation of our new attaching means may now'be described. Table 27, which may be provided with a knurled rim, is turned to draw slides I9 toward the same, thereby permitting springs 2li to elevate top member 5 above the ends of teeth' 3 and to permit the springs about posts I4 and I5 likewise to elevate intermediate member 4 until the upper surface of such member is above the ends of such teeth. If a cellulose lithographie plate is to be employed, member 4 is turned with its ridges 35 and 36 directed upwardly to cooperate with grooves 33 and 34 in the under surface of top member 5 (see Fig. 10). The end of plate 9 is then inserted between members 4 and 5 with the notches 8 in such plate registered by V- shaped lugs 1. Cam table 2'! is now rotated in the opposite direction to cause slides I9 to ride under caps I 8' of posts I1 and thereby depresstop member 5, the lithographie plate 9 and the intermediate member 4. As such member is thus depressed, the end portion of lithographie plate 9 is rst clamped between members 4 and 5, and member 4the plate v9 and member 5 slide down teeth 3 as a unit, such teeth passing nrst through ama-,512

holes; 44` in .member 4. and holes 45 in; plate r9; and:

i'lnally holes 46. in top member 5. Theother end of. the lithographicplate-.is similarlyf secured in the other resiliently. mounted attaching means, sliding block 30 being moved toward lip 28 against the forceof compression springs 3l to facilitate the operation. Such block is then. permitted to slide rearwardlyzunder the impulse of such springs to draw plate 9 tightly about the surface'of the impression cylinder and to'lock the rearL edge or such block in groove 29. The plate isnowv ready for use.

When itis desired to remove the plate from the cylinder such removal mayA bezeffected" Without injury thereto, as follows. The resiliently mountedY attaching means is.l pulled. outwardlyv against the forcer of compression,A springs 3| to somewhat relax the tension on plate'9 and slides I9 arevshifted to permittop member 5 to rise. Member 4 likewiserisesundery theu urging'of the springs'around posts I4 and` I5r and acts as a stripper plate to clear plateS of the ends of teeth 35. Such plate is held tightly: between members iv and 5 until it is clear of the ends of the teeth, whereupon, member 5 continuing-to rise somewhat, the end of plate 9 maybe withdrawn. The other end of the plate is then similarly released from the other attaching means. It will be seen from theA foregoing that thereis no danger of tearing the plateV on the 4teeth as so1 often ocl ours with otherfforms of attaching means. Thev illustrated-in Figs. 13 and 14 the'lithographic plate is rmly held between members 2 and l while top member 5 is raised or lowered. Thus thereu is no chanceforthe holes l5 inthe plate tobe torn as the ends of the teeth pass therethrough.

Referringnow'to Figs. 16-22 inclusive, there is illustrated anotherY embodiment ofv our Yinvention in which mechanism is provided` for retracting theA teeth into the cylinder. A saving of space is thereby obtained which may become important when it is desired that a maximum portion of the circumference of the cylinder be available for printing- The recessednon-printing portion of thecylinder I is milled out to4 form a longitudinal'slot 41 inthe upperpart of whicha base member 48 is securedas by, screwsA 49.4 The entire plate attachingI mechanism is mounted on such base thereby. greatly facilitating, replacement and repair.. Paired lever arms lland 5| are pivotallyv mounted on studs 52 and 53 respectively, projecting from the under surface and adjacent the ends of base 48. A bar` 54 is carried pivotally between the ends of` such arms, such bar being providedA with a plurality of. upstanding teeth 55 adapted to be reciprocated ina row of holes 58 in base 48. Theother ends of arms 58Vand 5l areY tachedgtoY basejli` at 63 and 84. and is providedl with a row of openings 8,5;corresppnding;toholes 561 in:A base, 48 and adapted to .1 receivei the ends of: teeth when such ends areprotruded fromr holes 58.. Theundersurfaceof suchv bar is relieved in spaced areas. to accommodate registry. lugs 86 on base 48, such lugs corresponding in formation and purpose to lugs ,1 above described. Reciprocably mountedin memberA 82 are plungers 8J, andvfadaptedto bear upon the heads 59 and 60 respectively lof vplungers 5l' and 5S. when member 62 is in plate clamping position. Springs such as 89 bearing against the heads of plungers. 6.1 and 68 holdthem normally retracted in, member. 62. Mountedon the upper' surface, of clampingP member 82 are two slides 18 and 'H havinginfY clined faces such as 'l2 adapted tol bear on the protruding heads4 of plungersl and 8,8.` The outer extremities 73 and 14, of such slides extend beyond the end of'member 82 when in advanced position for a purpose to beyexplained below. As, best shown in Figs. 20 and 2l these slides are con.- nectedby rods 'i5 and 'i5 to arotatable table i7Y provided with a wing grip is whereby such slides` may be reciprocated.

Meansare provided ateither end of base 48 for locking member 82 in clampingv positionv comprising rods 79 pivotally mounted at 88 on base 48 and carrying hooks 8l slidable thereon. Nuts. 82 on such rods serve to lock such hooks over` studs 83V on member GZ'to hold such member in clamping position. The extremities 73-and 'Mfof the slides will also overlie such hooks in ,this posi tion when teeth 55 are extended, thereby necessitating reciprocation of such slides and retraction of such teeth before the clamp can be released.

The; operation of this embodiment of our in. vention may now be explained. Clamping member 82 is raised and the lithographic plate regf` istered on lugs 68. Member 82 is then lowered. and locked in place by means of hooks 8| andVV nuts 82, thereby rmly gripping the lithographie, plate. Slides I8 and 'il are now moved. outwardly, camming down plungers 6l and 68 which. in turn depress plungers 5l and 58 causing teeth 55to be extended through the holes in thelithographicplate into holes 55 in member 82. As above pointed out, the slides must be withdrawn toV retract the teeth before it is possible to uny lock ,the clampingmember.

If desiredrone of theplateattaching means, mayfberesiliently f mounted in the cylinder, base.. d8 being mounted inthemannerof bloclril.,

The; `same attaching means` may be.; employed Ior securing-:the: usual rubber blanket to la; cyl-l indert andv willhave not; only the same advantagesu as above vbut will also be effective to take up thestretch in suchblanket duringA use with:v out the necessity of stoppingthe press to make adjustment. This isavery practical advantage.

' as new blankets tend to stretch rather badly when first put in use.

Itwill be seen thatv we have provided novel attaching'means for securing lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary a presses whichwill hold such plates Very securely and inv proper registry but which will not unduly.v deformthe same or tear the leading and follow-k ing edges. Such plates will therefore have aV much longer useful life and need not have theiredges reinforced or otherwise guarded. Furthermoraythe attaching means is readily adapte-- able for usevw-ith either cellulose or metal plates.

Other modes of applying the prnciplefof the invention may beemployedchange beingmadef as regards the details, described, provided the;

features stated in any of the -following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

l. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary presses comprising a plurality of teeth on such cylinder adapted to engage corresponding holes in such plate, clamping means operative to hold such plate firmly in engagement with such teeth, and a stripper member adapted to engage the other side of such plate from such clamping means and to cooperate therewith to clamp such plate .therebetween during removal of such plate from said teeth.

2. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary presses comprising a row of teeth carried by such cylinder, a stripper plate slidably mounted on said teeth, and a clamping plate overlying said stripper plate operative to clamp the end oi such lithographie plate or the like therebetween. Y

3. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary presses comprising a row of teeth carried by such cylinder, a reversible stripper plate slidably mounted on said teeth, such stripper plate being embossed on one surface, and a clamping plate overlying said stripper plate operative to clamp the end of such lithographie plate or the like therebetween.

4. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary presses comprising a row of teeth carried by such cylinder, a reversible stripper plate slidably mounted on said teeth, such stripper plate having locally embossed areas on one surface, and a clamping plate overlying said stripper plate operative to clamp the end of such lithographie plate. or the like therebetween, said clamping plate having relieved areas corresponding to such embossed areas on said stripper plate.

5. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary presses comprising a row of teeth carried by such cylinder, a reversible stripper plate slidably mounted on said teeth, such stripper plate having a longitudinal ridge on one surface, and a clamping plate overlying said stripper plate operative to clamp the end of such lithographie plate or the like therebetween, said clamping plate having a groove in its under surface corresponding to such ridge on said stripper plate.

6. The method of securing the perforated end of a lithographie plate or the like to a cylinder of a press having corresponding teeth thereon which comprises rst registering such end of such plate on such cylinder, next pressing such end to such cylinder in registered position while subjecting such sheet to lengthwise tension, and then inserting such teeth through such holes while such plate is held thus pressed against such cylinder.

7. The method of securing the perforated end of a lithographie plate or the like to a cylinder of a press having corresponding teeth thereon which comprises pressing such end between correspondingly perforated pressure members and then inserting such teeth in such perforations of such plate and pressure members while thus pressing such plate to secure the same against movement.

8. Means for attaching lithographie plates. blankets, and the like to the cylinders of f rotary presses comprising a row of teeth carried by such .s

cylinder adapted to engage corresponding holes in such plate, clamping means carried by such cylinder operative to clamp such plate therebetween during relative movement of such plate and teeth, and projections on such cylinder adjacent said teeth adapted to engage notches in the edge of such plate to register such holes in such plate with said teeth prior to thus clamping such plate.

9. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary presses comprising a row of teeth carried by such cylinder, a stripper plate slidably mounted on said teeth, a clamping plate overlying said stripper plate operative to clamp the end of such lithographie plate or the like therebetween, resil-V ient means respectively urging said stripper plate and said clamping plate out of engagement with said teeth, and cam means operative on said clamping plate rst to move said clamping plate toward said stripper plate to clamp such lithographie plate therebetween and then to move such assemblage of plates into engagement with said teeth.

10. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of presses comprising a row of holes in a recessed portion of such cylinder adapted to register with a corresponding row of holes adjacent an edge of such lithographie plate, a stripper plate adapted to overlie such holes similarly perforate, a member movably attached to such cylinder and carrying a plurality of teeth adapted to be inserted in such holes, and cam means operative first to move said movable member to withdraw such teeth from such holes and thereafter to raise said stripper plate from clamping position.

l1. The method of securing the perforated end of a lithographie plate or the like to a cylinder of a press having corresponding teeth thereon which comprises tightly pressing such end to such cylinder and inserting such teeth through such holes while holding such plate thus tightly pressed to prevent shifting such plate due to tension thereon.

12. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of a rotary press which comprises means adapted to register an edge of such plate on such cylinder, a plurality of teeth retractable into such cylinder, and means adjacent said teeth operative to clamp such plate.

13. Means for attaching lithographie plates..

tractable into such cylinder and means adjacent said teeth operative to elampsuch plate.

14. Means for attaching lithographie plates,

blankets, and the like to thel cylinders of a rotary press which comprises a plurality of teeth normally held retracted in such cylinder, clamping means adjacent such teeth operative to clamp such plate, and means operative when said clamping means is in clamping position to extend said teeth from such cylinder.

15. Means for attaching a lithographie plate, blanket, or the like to the cylinder of a rotary press comprising a member movably secured to such cylinder having a plurality of teeth adapted to engage a plurality of holes in such plate and cylinder corresponding to such teeth, and a stripper member interposed between said toothed member and cylinder and adapted to hold such platel against said cylinder whereby damage to such plate may be avoided during the withdrawal of such teeth therefronn,4

16. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to cylinders of rotary presses comprising clamping members on such cylinder operative to clamp an end portion of such plate, another separate member secured to such cylinder having a plurality of teeth adapted to enter and engage corresponding holes in such plate, and means mounting said tooth bearing member for movement relative to said clamping members to Withdraw such teeth from such plate prior to relaxing the grip of said clamping members on such plate, whereby distortion and tearing of such holes may be avoided.

17. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to cylinders of rotary presses comprising clamping means on such cylinder operative to clamp such plate, teeth secured to such cylinder and insertable in corresponding holes in such plate, and means mounting said clamping means for movement bodily relative to said teeth, whereby said teeth may be inserted in and withdrawn from such holes while said clamping means is thus continuously clamping such plate.

18. Means for attaching lithographie plates, blankets, and the like to the cylinders of rotary presses comprising a row of teeth carried by such cylinder adapted to be engaged in complementary holes in such plate, a clamping plate having an irregular surface opposed to a complementary member mounted on such cylinder adapted to hold the end portion of such lithographie plate therebetween while slightly crimping the same, and means mounting said clamping plate and complementary member for conjoint movement relative to said teeth axially of the latter, whereby such lithographie plate may be held rmly clamped between said clamping plate and complementary member during insertion of said teeth in and withdrawal of said teeth from such holes in such lithographie plate.

GEORGE S. ROWELL.

HERBERT MCGEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name` Date 1,362,100 Henderson Dec. 14, 1920 1,601,155 Zarkin Sept. 28, 1926 1,639,171 Fischer Aug. 16, 1927 2,165,233 Curtis July 11, 1939 2,192,924 Marer Mar. 12, 1940 2,350,016 Curtis May 30, 1944 

